Jonathan Tunick Wins 2nd Career Tony for Merrily We Roll Along Orchestrations

Jonathan Tunick won his second career Tony Award following 12 nominations at the 2024 Tony Awards, winning Best Orchestrations for his work on Merrily We Roll Along. The win is a full-circle moment for Tunick, who was the longtime primary orchestrator for late composer Stephen Sondheim. This win for Merrily is Tunick's first win for a Sondheim score.

"Thanks to [director] Maria, and to Steve, my old friend and teacher," he said onstage at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater while accepting the honor.

See the full live-updating list of 2024 Tony winners here.

This revival of Merrily We Roll Along opened October 10, 2023, at the Hudson Theatre, where it will continue through July 7. Directed by Olivier winner Friedman, the work features music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Furth.

Watch: An Oral History of Merrily We Roll Along's Journey From Flop to Tony-Nominated Hit

The revival stars Daniel Radcliffe as Charley Kringas, Jonathan Groff as Franklin Shepard, and Lindsay Mendez as Mary Flynn. The trio are all reprising their performances from the production's sold-out 2022 Off-Broadway run at New York Theatre Workshop, along with Krystal Joy Brown as Gussie Carnegie, Katie Rose Clarke as Beth Shepard, and Reg Rogers as Joe Josephson. Max Rackenberg, Rocco Van Auken, and Brady Wagner share the role of Frank Jr.

The company also includes Sherz Aletaha, Maya Boyd, Leana Rae Concepcion, Ken Krugman, Corey Mach, Talia Simone Robinson, Jamila Sabares-Klemm, Brian Sears, Evan Alexander Smith, Christian Strange, Vishal Vaidya, Natalie Wachen, and Jacob Keith Watson. Rounding out the company as swings are Morgan Kirner, Amanda Rose, and Koray Tarhan. Casting is by Jim Carnahan and Jason Thinger.

Based on the George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart play of the same name, Merrily We Roll Along tracks the lives of three friends navigating the entertainment industry over three decades in reverse chronological order. Sondheim's score includes such songs as "Old Friends," "Now You Know," "Franklin Shepard, Inc.," "Good Thing Going," and "Not a Day Goes By." A revival cast recording was released January 12.

READ: Hey, Old Friend: Lindsay Mendez Returns to Broadway With Merrily We Roll Along

The production features choreography by Tim Jackson and orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. Scenic and costume design are by Soutra Gilmour, with lighting design by Amith Chandrashaker, sound design by Kai Harada, hair and wig design by Cookie Jordan, music supervision by Catherine Jayes, music direction by Joel Fram, associate music supervision by Alvin Hough, Jr., and music coordination by Kristy Norter.

Sonia Friedman Productions, David Babani, Patrick Catullo, and Jeff Romley lead the revival's producing team.

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